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College of Education

Current Research Projects

Funded by a U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) Leadership Preparation grant, this project will prepare a cadre of four scholars to conduct rigorous research, deliver relevant training and service, and establish effective collaborative relationships to enhance transition outcomes for students with diverse needs (e.g., including intellectual disability, autism, and multiple disabilities). Scholars will have the expertise needed to rigorously evaluate interventions used in a variety of educational settings, and develop, evaluate, and disseminate sustainable practices that result in positive adult life outcomes for youth with diverse needs, through both traditional advanced graduate coursework and novel educational experiences.

CAP is a novel Vocational Rehabilitation-funded Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) program serving secondary students in SC with disabilities. CAP staff and ambassadors (students enrolled in the USC CarolinaLIFE program) work in high school classrooms to inform students of their postsecondary options, including careers and inclusive postsecondary education programs.

Project DRIVE is funded through a Transition and Postsecondary Programs for Students with Intellectual Disabilities (TPSID) 5-year award (2020-2025). TPSID’s goal is to help students with intellectual disabilities successfully transition into higher education. The major initiatives of Project DRIVE include 1) the College Agency Initiative, 2) a novel collaborative partnership with a local technical college to increase students’ access to industry-recognized credentials, and 3) a focus on enhancing access to living and learning communities on campus- all projects aimed at enhancing student experiences and opportunities.

In partnership with CarolinaLIFE, CTRL is supporting the implementation of a technology-focused career development model. CarolinaLIFE is an inclusive postsecondary education program for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) at the University of South Carolina. This process will support CarolinaLIFE’s ongoing commitment to supporting students to attain a career in their chosen field. Specifically, we propose to create a Model of Support that will incorporate Natably and their novel career-optimizing technology platform. This will be a multi-component process that supports students, staff, and potential employers with the ultimate goal of enhancing competitive integrated employment for young adults with IDD. 

SCIPSEC was officially formed in 2023 after receiving funds from the SC legislature. Prior to its formal recognition, program directors and staff from SC inclusive postsecondary education (IPSE) programs engaged in ongoing communication and self-initiated collaborative efforts to enhance awareness, access, opportunity for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities to access successfully transition into college environments. The team is made up of leadership staff from the current (6) IPSE programs in SC and a full-time Program Coordinator. The team partners with community organizations and agencies working to support students with disabilities to maximize adult outcomes.

The purpose of this project is to investigate the ways in which young adults with IDD understand, express, and contextualize their personal identity. This is inclusive of, but not exclusive to, their identity as a person with a disability.

Manuscripts to come from this research include:

Smith Hill, R. B., Plotner, A. J., Fields, A. M., & Castle, M., Perez, L. (2024, online). Exploring the personal identity of college students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Emerging Adulthood. https://doi.org/10.1177/21676968241245752

Plotner, A. J., Rother, Y., Smith Hill, R. B., & Walters, C. W. (in progress). Disability identity in emerging adults: A scoping literature review.

Lead Researchers: Rebecca Smith Hill, Ph.D. & Anthony J. Plotner, Ph.D.

South Carolina Pathways Project (SCPP): A Disability-led Collaborative, aims to develop, implement, refine, and evaluate a model for collaborative, seamless transition service delivery for students with disabilities as they transition through high school and into the workforce. Four goals represent critical SCPP domains: foundation and structure, implementation, evaluation, and public information.

The Center for Transition Research and Leadership will serve as evaluator for this project.

Lead Evaluator: Rebecca Smith Hill, Ph.D.

Funded: October 2023

Anticipated Completion Date: October 2028

This project aims to improve career outcomes for individuals with an intellectual disability or developmental disability through enhancing awareness around and creating concrete pathways to industry-recognized credentials (IRCs). Specifically, the project team will work to connect SC Inclusive Postsecondary Education (IPSE) programs with up-to-date resources as well as networking opportunities in order to best advise students of the various opportunities. Additionally, the team will work to bring awareness to the rigor and quality of IPSE credentials around the state in order to ensure employers understand the value of IPSE credentials.

Lead Researchers: Rebecca Smith Hill, Ph.D. & Anthony J. Plotner, Ph.D.

Funded: May 2024

Anticipated Completion Date: May 2027

 

 


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